BY KEITH LACEY
Local police services claimed a small victory in the fight against the scourge of crack cocaine in Greater Sudbury by charging 37 people with trafficking the highly-addictive drug Thursday.
The charges stem from an eight-month undercover investigation conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Section and Greater Sudbury Police. The investigation was code-named Project Rocked.
"Am I convinced we've stemmed the tide of crack cocaine in this community...no I'm not, but I am confident we've reached deep into the local drug trade," said Greater Sudbury Police Chief Ian Davidson, at a press conference Thursday afternoon at police headquarters.
"I also do know 37 dealers are in jail or will soon be in jail."
The investigation focused on infiltrating crack cocaine dealers operating across Greater Sudbury, said Insp. Susan Evans of the Greater Sudbury Police.
An undercover officer was able to make numerous purchases of crack cocaine during this project, which resulted in the 37 individuals being charged with more than 200 various drug-related offences, she said.
More than $120,00 of crack cocaine was seized and purchased during the investigation, said Det. Staff Sgt. Tony Fletcher of the Sudbury detachment of the OPP.
Fifteen people have been arrested and remain in custody, seven of those charged were already in custody on other matters and warrants have been issued for the arrest of 15 other individuals, said Fletcher.
The investigation revealed seven dealers from the Greater Toronto Area were bringing in substantial amounts of crack cocaine to Greater Sudbury and 30 individuals from this community were actively trafficking the drug from various locations, said Fletcher.
The undercover agent purchased amounts of crack ranging from very small amounts to a quarter--pound, said Evans.
Not only will this drug bust get three dozen dealers off the street, but it should result in a decline in other property crimes as many of these dealers are addicts as well and often are forced to resort to crime to pay off drug debts or get money to feed their addictions, said Evans.
This bust won't eliminate the growing problem of crack cocaine addiction in Greater Sudbury, but it will make a major dent, she said.
"We feel this operation was a great success...we've identified 37 dealers who are now out of business," she said.
All but a handful of those charged were charged after trying to sell crack to one undercover officer who infiltrated the local drug trade, said Fletcher.
Evans said crack cocaine wasn't a big problem in Greater Sudbury until the past couple of years, when dealers from Greater Toronto decided to move their business to Northern Ontario.
The problems associated with addiction and increased criminal activity have become more and more prevalent since increasing amounts of crack cocaine became more readily available, she said.
The undercover officer was able to find out about numerous "crack houses" where drugs were being sold based on complaints from neighbours in various areas of the city, said Fletcher.
Greater Sudbury Police will not back down and will continue to work together with other police agencies to track down and arrest people who are bringing and distributing this destructive drug across Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario, said Davidson.
Those charged with trafficking crack cocaine from Greater Sudbury are:
Michael Bertrand, 31; Tanya Dashner, 32; Dan McCharles, 40; Jacob Trudeau, 30; Ben Spanish, 29; Bonnie Taylor, 38; Patrick Mills, 47; William Ehmke, 44; Janey Trudeau, 27; Romeo Trudeau, 31; Louise Towegishig, 37; John Greer, 24; Christian Kalubi, 26; Devland McCoshen, 24; Kelly Ashawasega, 28; Adam Gemus, 21; Randy Chamulak, 45; Stacey Simmons, 34; Jennifer Burke, 27; Joshua Delyea, 25; James Watkinson, 28; Joshua Tavenor, 27; Katrina Tschekalin, 40; Andre Bigras, 33; Edward Longe, 30; Mahomet Tiber, 26; Robert Cole, 28; Cynthia Caverly, 21; Victoria Knuff, 23; Jason Laderiault, 32; and Susie Clement, 23.
Also charged from Greater Sudbury is one young male offender, age 16, who can't be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Those charged with trafficking crack cocaine from Greater Toronto are Owen Nevison, 26; Dane Charles-Roberts, 20; Barry Thomas, 22; and Donovan Campbell, 22. Also charged is one young offender, age 17.
